Animated display



M. c. WELLES ANIMATED DISPLAY May 28,

Filed March 15', 1 939 Fig.1

INVENTOR M 9 ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,202,178ANIMATED DISPLAY Merrill 0. Welles, Belmont, Mass.

Application March 15,

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an animated display having an element orelements activated by the wind, or by air blown from a fan.

The essential object of the invention is to so mount and control theelements that the desired end of successfully activating the elements bywind, or blown air, will be attained.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to thedrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the application of the inventionto an outdoor sign.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views showing perspectively various members used inthe mounting of the movable elements, and by which they may be activatedby wind, or blown air, and their motion restrained; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section and partly inside elevation, of one of the elements shown in Fig. l, with membersused for mounting as shown in Fig; 2, but with modified mode ofretention.

One of the foremost applications of the invention is to an outdoor sign.The-body of these signs is usually metal plate, and any mounting of themovable element must be by application to the exterior facing of thisplate. Reference will, accordingly, first be made to the application .ofthe movable element to a metal sign.

Referring to Fig. l 'of the drawing, l represents a metal sign. 2are'members connected to the metal sign, and so mounted as to be movableby the wind. As shown in the drawing, these members are letters. Theymay, however, be of any desired form, or character. The letters as shownare simply illustrative.

Itwill be assumed that there is applied to the main face of the metalsign advertising matter. This application may be either by painting, orby matter cemented to the face of the sign. There is left, however, inthe place for mounting the .movable elements, a blank space in whichdirect contact is had with the metal surface of the sign. Arranged inthis space, and cemented to the metal face of the sign, is a block 3.This block may be of wood, or any other suitable material, of strengthsu'iiicient to bear the weight of the movable elements and carry theparts attached to the block on which the elements are mounted. The blockis made as thin as possible, and is painted, or colored, to have thesame ground color as that of the main sign.

, Secured to the face of the block 3 are socket forming members 4 whichcorrespond in number with the number of elements 2 to be animated. Thesocket forming members 4 each consists of 1939, Serial No. 262,025

a metal plate bent to provide a portion 5 with but offset from the block3 to which the member 4 is secured so as to leave a socket'fi between itand the face of the block. The portion 5 isheld thus offset by portions1', l of the plate to which the portion 5 is integrallyconnected, andfrom the bottom edge of these portions 1, l, integrally connectedtherewith, there extend laterally in opposite directions flanges 8, 8which lie parallel with the portion 5 of the plate and are secured tothe block 3 by any suitable mode of fas'tenings such as screws. Theportion 5 is provided with a semi-circular slot l inthe top edgethereof.

Each of the socket forming .members 4 provides a mounting for members Hand l2, respectively. Of these the member H is provided with a hangerfrom'which the element 2 hangs suspended, and the member I2 is providedwithstops by which the movement of the element 2 is controlled;

The member H' as shown in Fig. 3 comprises a plate M, generallyrectangular in form and thus adapted to fit snugly within the socket 6with inability to turn therein. The plate H is preferably provided onits front face at the top with a boss I which may be secured to theplate by welding. Secured to this boss is a rod it which provides thehanger from which the element 2 hangs suspended. The rod is preferablysecured to the boss by threading its end into the boss, or may beotherwise secured thereto.

The member 12 as shown in Fig. 4 comprises a plate H, which like theplate l l, is generally rec tangular in form, and with the plate I lfits within the socket 6. Along its top edge the plate I1 is providedwith a bend 58 from which depends a leaf i9. This leaf lies parallelwith the plate I! in spaced relation to it, and bears on its bottom edgean out-turned flange 20 from which extend arms 2i which form the stopsby which parallel the movement of the element 2 is controlled.

The leaf l9 has, also, a hole 22 in it adapted to receive the'boss IE onthe plate Id of the member l I when the members I l and l2 areassembled.

The members II and I! are assembled before the leaf I9 has been turneddown to lie parallel with the plate ll. The rod 16 of the member II isfirst passed through the opening 22 in the leaf N) on the member l2, andthe boss E5 on the plate M brought forward to fit within the opening,after which the leaf i3 is bent down to lie parallel'with the plate l1.

After the members H and E2 are thus assembled the plates l4 and ll ofthe respective members are brought snugly together and slipped into thesocket 6 in the member 4, the leaf I9 on the member I2 then extendingoutside of and over the portion of the socket member 4. The plates l4and I! extend into the socket 6 until the bend I8 in the member I2engages the top edge of the portion 5 to the socket member 4, and theboss I5 on the member II is brought to lie within the semi-circular slotID in the top edge of said portion 5. Thus mounted and secured, the rodI6 and the arms 2| will project outwardly from the face of the block 3on which they are mounted, the rod acting to provide a support for themovable element, and the arms acting to control the movement thereof.

In Fig. 5 a modification is shown in that no socket forming member isapplied to the face of the block 3 but the socket which receives themountings for the rod I6 and arms 2| is formed within the block. To thisend the block on the rear side thereof is provided with a socket 24within which is contained the plate I4 of the member II, and the plateI! and leaf I9 of the member I2. The block is also provided with anopening 25 for receiving the boss on the rod I6, and also an opening 26for receiving the flange, or web, 23 and arms 2! extending therefrom onthe leaf I9. In assembling the parts as shown in Fig. 5 the members IIand I2 are first assembled, the same as previously described. Theassembled members are then applied to the block 3. The rod I6 is passedthrough the opening 25 in the block and the arms 2| through the opening26 therein. The passage of the rod and arms is continued until the bossI5 on the arm I6 lies socketed within the opening 25, and the flange, orweb 20 on the leaf l9 will lie within the opening 26. At the same timethe plates M, II, and leaf I9 on the assembled members II and I 2 willlie within the socket 24 in the block, after which the block is cementedto the sign I, the face of the sign then closing the socket 24.

Each of the elements 2 is pivotally hung suspended from the rod I6 tomove freely to and fro, or oscillate, in its own plane, without twistingor turning, by the combined forces of wind and gravity. The elements 2are made relatively light in relation to their size so as to possesslittle inertia, and thus be readily moved by the wind. Balsa wood hasbeen found very good for making the elements.

As indicated, each element is hung suspended from the rod I6 by means ofa strap 28. This strap is secured at one end to the element in anysuitable manner, preferably to the head of the element. At its oppositeend the strap is turned to form a sleeve 29 embracing the rod I6, whichprovides pivotal bearing therefor. The strap is preferably a metalstrap; one that will retain its shape and not twist and is, also, arelatively wide strap with wide bearing on the rod I6 to preventtwisting or turning of the element. To prevent lateral displacement ofthe element and strap, that portion 36 of the rod which provides apivotal bearing for the strap is dropped so that portions 3i and 32 ofthe rod will provide bearings for the ends of the sleeve to prevent enddisplacement thereof.

The rod I6 from which the element hangs suspended lies above and in anintermediate position between the. stop arms 2!, 2!. The strap 23 will,accordingly, pass centrally between these arms when the element lies inits normal gravitated position. The stop arms will not prevent anynormal and proper oscillation of the element, but

any abnormal oscillation thereof will be prevented by the arms throughengagement of the strap 28 therewith.

I claim:

1. In a display the combination with the body thereof of a block affixedthereto, an element adapted to be activated by wind, or blown air,arranged adjacent said block, means for mounting said element from saidblock as a base of support whereby said element will freelyoscillateonly in a single plane, and means connected to said block for limitingoscillatory movement of said element.

2. In a display the combination with the body thereof of a block afiixedthereto, an element adapted to be activated by wind, or blown air,arranged adjacent said block, means for mounting said element from saidblock as a base of support whereby it will oscillate only in a singleplane including a member bearing a hanger from which said element mayhang suspended, means for socketing said member whereby said hanger willproject in direction substantially normal to said block when said memberis socketed as aforesaid, and means attaching said element to saidhanger whereby it may hang suspended therefrom and turn pivotallythereon.

3. In a display the combination with the body thereof of a block aflixedthereto, an element adapted to be activated by wind, or blown air,arranged adjacent said block, means for mounting said element from saidblock as a base of support whereby it will oscillate only in a singleplane and with limited oscillatory movement including a set of assembledmembers, one bearing a hanger from which said element may hang suspendedand the other stops for limiting oscillatory movement of said element,means for socketing said members when assembled whereby said hanger andsaid stops will project in directions substantially normal to said blockwhen said assembled members are socketed as aforesaid, and means havingan extension between said stops for attaching said element to saidhanger whereby it may hang suspended therefrom and turn pivotallythereon and be restrained by said stops upon undue oscillatory movementof said element.

4. In a display having an element adapted to be animated by wind, orblown air, a set of assembled members, one providing a hanger from whichsaid member may hang suspended, and the other stops for limiting theoscillatory movement of said member, said one of the members including aplate and rod extending therefrom providing said hanger as aforesaid,the other including a plate with turned edge and dependent leaf witharms extending therefrom providing said stops as aforesaid, the plate ofsaid one member lying between the plate and leaf of said other memberwith said rod extending through said leaf when said members areassembled.

5. In a display the combination comprising a body, an element adapted tobe activated by wind or blown air arranged adjacent said body, means formounting said element from off said body whereby it will oscillate onlyin a single plane and with limited oscillatory movement, including a setof assembled members, one bearing a hanger from which said element mayhang suspended and the other stops for limiting the oscillatory movementof said element, and means for socketing said members when assembledwhereby said hanger and said stops will project in directionssubstantially normal to said body when, said assembled members aresocketed as aforesaid.

6. In a display the combination comprising a body, an element adapted tobe activated by wind or blown air arranged adjacent said body, means formounting said element from OK said body whereby it will oscillate onlyin a single plane and with limited oscillatory movement, including a setof assembled members, one bearing ahanger from which said element mayhang suspended and the other steps for limiting the oscillatory move- 10ment of said element, means for socketing said

